Annual figures for heritage foundation Culture Vannin has revealed it provided thousands in grants in the year 2019/20.

The accounts for the charity have been included in the order paper for this month’s sitting of Tynwald.

Throughout the 2019/20 financial year, Culture Vannin paid out £58,998 in grants to support Manx language and culture.

Some of the grants given out by Culture Vannin included support for Peel Carnival, St German’s Cathedral music and arts CD project, Visit Laxey, Manx Youth Band, as well as books and films.

In his foreword to the account, chairman of Culture Vannin Chris Thomas said the charity is in a ’relatively healthy financial position, with a surplus of £48,654’.

He said: ’Again, achievement is what shines out from the annual report’s outline of the development work, projects, grants and other activity.

’This achievement is built on the strong partnership of Culture Vannin with our wonderful cultural community, the "volunteer cultural aficionados" as I described them last year, those whose knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm is irreplaceable.’

Mr Thomas also outlined the way the charity has increased its work across the island with media companies, big business such as Lloyds Bank and ’works with the advisory teacher for the Manx Curriculum to provide in-service teacher training, as well as resources’.

He added: ’The physical presence of the Cultural Centre in St Johns, and the virtual presentation of the Island’s cultural heritage online, both continue to extend their content and reach, as the infographics in this report show.

’This year one focus was preparation for the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. In particular, James Franklin produced edits of Charles Guard’s films, working with Jo Callister and with Alex Brindley, to make many Culture Vannin educational videos as widely available as possible.

’I believe these were particularly helpful for those home-schooling during the Covid-19 lockdown.’

The accounts show that throughout 2019/20, Culture Vannin’s income rose to £508,902, up from £442,245 the previous year. This came from £100,000 in government grants, £393,920 in lottery duty and bona vacantia income totalling £14,982, a further £2,990 came in from donations.

Meanwhile staffing costs of £266,935 made up the majority of Culture Vannin’s £465,738 expenditure.